New cane varieties engineered to suit the weather

Retish Reddy from the FSC nursery research division shows farmers the new cane variety at the Naloto
Sector, Ba. Picture: JAI PRASAD

THE Fiji Sugar Corporation will introduce two new varieties of cane in the Ba cane belt by mid April.

This is when they expect to complete the final rounds of testing.

At a field day organised for farmers in the Moto and Naloto areas, Sugar Research Institute of Fiji officer Prem Naidu said the new hybrid varieties had been engineered to suit Ba's weather conditions.

"The LF94-694 variety is quite stocky and similar to the Ragna variety while the second one is the LF04-448, which is very tall and built for very dry conditions," said Mr Naidu.

"These are cane breeds which have been specifically engineered for this part of the island where conditions are more adverse."

Mr Naidu said the sugar contents of these new variety would be much higher making it ideal for the new quality cane payment system to be implemented during the cane cutting season from June.